Dáil Day One: Second election on the way as Fianna Fáil/ Fine Gael coalition lies is ruins

Despite heavy overtures from outgoing Taoiseach Enda Kenny yesterday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin categorically ruled out any deal, saying his party “has no mandate to return Fine Gael to power”.
Mr Martin appeared to rule out even supporting a minority government arrangement involving Fine Gael, with several of his leading TDs saying they would prefer a second election over doing a deal.
The hardening of views by senior Fianna Fáil figures comes after grassroots members of the party voiced their anger at suggestions such a coalition may be about to happen.
Mr Martin said the Irish people did not vote for Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to go into government together. Mr Martin, surrounded by his expanded Dáil party at Leinster House, said the mandate given to him was to change the government.
“We didn’t get a mandate to go into government with Fine Gael and we certainly didn’t get a mandate to put Fine Gael back into government,” he said.

However in the Dáil, Fianna Fáil was forced to vote with Fine Gael to prevent a Sinn Féin motion to scrap water charges being heard in the Dáil. This voting down of the motion was criticised by Sinn Féin president Gerry Adams.
Having failed to be re-elected as Taoiseach by the Dáil, Mr Kenny formally tendered his resignation as Taoiseach to President Michael D Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin last night.
A statement released on behalf of the Government noted: “The Taoiseach, Mr Enda Kenny, TD, has this evening conveyed to the President his resignation from office. In accordance with the Constitution, the Government and the Taoiseach will continue to carry on their duties until successors have been appointed.”
Following the failure to elect a taoiseach, the Dáil descended into farce as TDs clashed for several hours over how to conduct its business, with new ceann comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl coming under severe pressure from Sinn Féin and Independents.

Fine Gael ministers have confirmed that discussions on behalf of the party will start while Mr Kenny is in the US next week, and contact with Fianna Fáil is expected to take place before he departs.
It has emerged that both ministers Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney have cancelled planned St Patrick’s Day trips to Boston and Dubai to take part in potential discussions.
The reluctance of the two senior ministers — both seen as potential leaders of Fine Gael — to travel, indicates that the party intends to keep negotiating with other parties and TDs about forming a government.
Mr Kenny will be in the US for the national day commemorations and will also attend an EU summit in Brussels next week.
Senior Fine Gael sources have also told the Irish Examiner if some spending estimates cannot be pushed through the Dáil next month, that the parliament will have to be dissolved.

Sources close to Mr Varadkar say parts of spending estimates in the health sector will need to be approved in the coming weeks, but will need agreement in the Dáil.
Small parties and Independent TDs have urged Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil to cut a deal with each other .
Newly elected TD Danny Healy-Rae and Green party leader Eamon Ryan said the move should be considered for the good of the country and to leave the century-old Civil War firmly in the past.